Battle is on to host Tour stage
Cycling: London is facing competition in its attempts to host a stage in the 2007 Tour de France. Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has submitted a proposal for the race to visit Britain for the third time, but Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Canada have also made bids. It is thought that a successful application by London would see the Tour prologue take place around Westminster, finishing on The Mall, followed by a first stage proper around London and Essex and a second stage to the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, Kent. Britain has previously hosted two stages in 1994 and one in 1974.
Kuwait celebrate
Squash: Kuwait celebrated their first semi-final appearance in a World Team Championship when they upset Germany, the No 4 seeds, 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the PIA Men’s World Junior Team Championship in Islamabad. The squad will play Pakistan, the hosts and defending champions. The second semi-final will feature Egypt and England, who beat India 2-1 after James Wright triumphed over Vikas Jangra in the decider.
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Williams bout
Boxing: Danny Williams, the former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion who knocked out Mike Tyson last month, is to challenge Vitali Klitschko for the WBC title on December 9, according to the champion. Klitschko, of Ukraine, who is in Athens watching the Olympics, said that the bout is likely to take place in Germany.
Bisley open day
Swimming: Rebecca Cooke set a British record in the 800 metres freestyle at the British Short-Course Championships yesterday in Manchester. Cooke led from the start at the Aquatics Centre and she accelerated away over the last two lengths to win in a time of 8min 18.68sec.
Cooke record
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Shooting: The National Rifle Association holds its second Home Office Approved Open Day at the National Shooting Centre at Bisley, Surrey, next Saturday. Members of the public will have the opportunity to try shooting air, gallery and target rifles and also historic firearms, archery and laser “clay pigeons” under expert one-to-one tuition.